By Mark Abrams

The city of Philadelphia has declared the first code blue of the New Year as a cold snap grips the region.

The Code Blue designation is aimed at getting the homeless off the streets and into shelters and warmth.

With temperatures forecast to reach the teens, and wind chills in the single digits, one of the city’s chief advocates for the homeless is urging the public to step up.

Sister Mary Scullion is co-founder of Project Home. She says average citizens can do their part to save a life.

“Our resources obviously are limited and so we really want to engage and reach out to those folks that are most in need and most vulnerable – the elderly, people who have disabilities, anyone that a citizen sees that is really in need of services right now and right there.”

Scullion says you can call 215-232-1984 to get a team dispatched to aid a person in need.